FOOTBALL ’89 : DEL REY LEAGUE

Alemany

COACH: Pat Blackburn, 2nd year

LAST SEASON: 4-6; 4th in league, 1-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The expectation surrounding sophomore backfield sensation Terry Barnum (5-10, 165), who scored 28 touchdowns in nine freshman games, has overshadowed other Alemany offensive threats. Quarterback Joey Rosselli (6-2, 175), a second-team all-league pick, threw for 1,559 yards and nine touchdowns last year as a junior. Alemany is especially deep at wide receiver. Last year’s leading receiver, Scott Goldsmith (26 catches for 367 yards), returns along with Bill Markowitz (14 catches, 263 yards). Other experienced receivers include Jason Corralejo (18 for 207), and Mark Dannemiller (9 for 69). Blackburn says tight end Richard Dice (6-3, 190), a sophomore who started on the varsity basketball team, might be a frequent target. Sophomore Brian Brison (5-7, 175), a Westlake transfer who is as fast as Barnum, also will carry the ball. The offensive line is anchored by tackle Chris Campuzano (6-2 280), the Indians’ only returning first-team all-league player. Also on the line are tackle Nino Lovato (6-1, 195) and JV giant Joe Schellendorfer (6-4, 265). The Alemany defense, which allowed 255 yards a game last season, will be led by tackles Randy Lawson (6-3 245) and Eddie Latorre (6-2, 205) and linebacker Frank Winton (5-11, 185), a team captain.

OUTLOOK: Alemany is stocked on offense and should be able to score, but its defense has to improve to shut down Del Rey opponents. Last season, the Indians yielded 119 yards a game on the ground--a figure Blackburn wants to whittle. “With better run defense, we would have won three or four more games,” he said. In addition, the team gave up 136 yards in the air and intercepted just four passes.

Crespi

COACH: Tim Lins, 1st year

LAST SEASON: 6-6; 2nd in league, 3-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: True, the Celts lose Russell White, the state’s all-time rushing and scoring leader, but they will not necessarily be rebuilding from scratch. When healthy, Christian Fauria (6-4, 200) is one of the best tight ends in the area. He caught 16 passes for 188 yards last season and should figure prominently in Crespi’s offense. Lins says Fauria has recovered completely from a bruised kidney he sustained in a summer passing league game. Frank Romano (6-4, 200) and Pat Metoyer (6-4, 190) are also tight end prospects, though Metoyer might move outside and play wide receiver. Junior Bill Canalez and Brodie VanWagenen, a sophomore, are competing for the quarterback job. Although he didn’t throw a pass behind all-league quarterback Ron Redell last season, Canalez has the edge by virtue of varsity experience. After attending one San Fernando summer practice, junior tailback Leonice Brown has returned to Crespi. Though Lins says Brown is raw, he raised some eyebrows in camp by running a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. Dan Hunt, a 6-2, 230-pound guard, and sophomore tackle Eyrk Simmons (6-2, 240) are mainstays on the line. Despite the fact that Crespi had three all-league defenders, they allowed 183 yards a game rushing and 114 passing. That type of generosity could cost them this season. Defensive backs Mark Venturine, Lucas Freeman, Paul Cerniglia, Lance Thomas, and Ken Kuras should help curtail the opposition.

OUTLOOK: Crespi opens the season at Redlands--a school that defeated the Celts, 28-6, last season. Lins says a win against the Terriers would be a huge boost to the new program. Bill Redell, Crespi’s former coach, says Lins is a better disciplinarian than he was. “They got more concerned about how they looked than how they played last year,” said Redell, who allowed his players to wear slogans on towels and bandanas. “We were a well-disciplined team but I think Tim might discipline them a little better.” Lins says he doesn’t plan any strategic trump cards--he will stick to Redell’s ball-control offense that is based on a solid ground game.

St. Francis

COACH: Bill Garrison, 1st year

LAST SEASON: 4-7; 3rd in league, 2-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Just what type of talent does St. Francis have? None of the Del Rey League coaches seems to know--including Garrison. Not only is Garrison unfamiliar with his own personnel, he is unsure about what to expect from the competition. “From what people have told me, the schedule that we’re playing is down but I sure can’t tell,” he said. The Golden Knights are definitely up at fullback--Pete Morales (6-0, 210), a second-team all-league player who gained 341 yards in 76 carries, will start. Senior Frank Lima (5-10, 195) and junior Larry Duenas (6-0, 200) also will carry the ball. The three might be hanging on the belt-loop of tackle Richard Portillo (6-0, 255), the only other returning starter on offense. “If we’ve got one returning lineman, it’s not going to take people long to figure where we’re going to go,” Garrison said. Strong safety Kevin Hurley, the lone returning starter on defense and probably the Knights’ best athlete, and senior cornerback Mike Torres (6-3, 180) will double as receivers. The linebacker corps, including Lima, Marty Konrad (6-2, 200) and Rob Centrone (5-10, 185) might be the defensive strong suit.

OUTLOOK: Garrison doesn’t mind the fact that he will be under close scrutiny in his first head coaching job to produce a winning team. “I’m hopping into the fishbowl but that’s expected,” he said. The Knights open against Burroughs and things couldn’t start off much worse than they did in last year’s opener when St. Francis allowed the Indians to return the game’s first kickoff for a touchdown.